#DeLille: Where did it all go wrong?

Cape Town - Mayor Patricia de Lille’s demise all started when she decided to close down the City’s Special Investigative Unit (SIU) which is under control of her safety chief JP Smith - someone she does not see eye-to-eye with.

De Lille has clipped the wings of the SIU by ordering that it be shut down, a move which has unearthed shocking claims of councillors being involved in murder.

Claims about irregularities relating to building work done at De Lille’s Pinelands home also surfaced.

This SIU is a different entity from the national Special Investigating Unit and its mandate is to investigate high-level probes within the City.

In a submission from Smith, dated August 20 and addressed to among others, DA leader Mmusi Maimane addressed his worries about narrowing the SIU’s functions.

The corruption included an amount of R43 million, Kesson claimed. The Cape Argus/IOL reported earlier in the week that 22 cashiers were fired for their involvement in the corruption.

Whitehead, in her affidavit, also said that she was aware of R36m lost in revenue. De Lille has had to fend the attacks which she believe is because of her plans to integrate the city and tackle apartheid spatial planning. She has until Monday to respond after the DA will take a decision on her future.